Topics Testing and Accountability

June 22, 2017

State officials cool to school districts' request to become 'Innovation Zone'

Now's not the time to expand experimentation with school accountability measures, staff tells CORE Districts.

June 7, 2017

Q & A: Poor students and English learners did better on tests but achievement gaps yet to narrow

Standardized test results from 2015 and 2016 show disadvantaged students aren't progressing as quickly as wealthier, English-fluent peers.

May 29, 2017

California students go online in record numbers to take Common Core-aligned tests, with few glitches

Familiarity with tests and increased Internet capabilities helped districts administer assessments, but state system experienced glitches when overloaded.

May 16, 2017

Another school rating system, more data on racial, ethnic disparities

GreatSchools debuts a multiple-measure view of California's schools.

May 10, 2017

Teachers' concerns lead to changes in state's testing contract

The State Board of Education agreed to spend $1.5 million more on testing, including nearly $500,000 on new "Science Academies" intended to help teachers better understand the Next Generation Science Standards.

Theresa Harrington

April 28, 2017

Pilot science test underway in California, despite dispute with federal officials

Computer-based exam based on Next Generation Science Standards to be given through June.

Carolyn Jones

April 16, 2017

Teacher complaints lead to improvements in state tests

After educators say interim test reports designed to improve teaching were too vague to be useful, the consortium that created them promises to do better.

Theresa Harrington

April 12, 2017

High schools turning to student portfolios to assess academic progress

Across California, 34 high schools and 12 districts have formed a network to promote performance-based assessments, including portfolios. These are the end product of months of intense collaboration, research, critical thinking and multiple revisions that students typically present in their senior year.

Ashley Hopkinson

April 11, 2017

California's high school graduation rate improves for 7th straight year, but ethnic gaps remain

State statistics show that 83.2 percent of students who entered high school in 2012-13 had graduated by 2016. But gaps as large as 20 percentage points separate some ethnic groups.

Larry Gordon

April 6, 2017

College readiness program aims to boost AP scores

The National Math + Science Initiative program has led to improved Advanced Placement test scores in more than 725 schools in 34 states over three years.

Theresa Harrington

March 20, 2017

New California School Dashboard subjected to scrutiny by workshop participants

Workshop participants expressed concerns about data timeliness, local indicators, how data relate to districts’ accountability plans, and how charter data are reported.

Theresa Harrington

March 16, 2017

Teacher collaboration leads to Common Core math success

E.M. Grimmer Elementary in Fremont, which has a high percentage of low-income and Latino students, was among 19 district schools – or 58 percent – that were ranked at the highest level in math on state standards.